Many fair shap and many a fair visage
Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght,
As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght,
And sette it in a commune market-place.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Merchant’s Tale. Old January in his search for a young wife completely focuses on appearance and beauty. Fair women and fair bodies pass through his head like images reflected on a mirror set up in a market-place. He is only interested in a young girl’s looks and he objectifies women like they are goods to be traded.